Interim superintendent proposes $47.31m school spending plan

DOVER — Interim Superintendent Antonio Fernandes submitted a $47,315,570 proposed budget for fiscal year 2015 during a School Board workshop at the McConnell Center Monday evening.

The proposed operating budget represents a 2.46 percent increase over the current 2014 budget. This means an additional $1,137,708 will be needed in additional funding, according to the superintendent’s PowerPoint presentation.

Fernandes said he is proposing a budget where revenues and expenses are equal. He told the board he took a conservative approach when anticipating revenues, which his administrative team projects will be at least $47,365,893.85.

The budget Fernandes submitted is $50,323.85 less than what his projected revenues are, but does not include a number of items that were requested in the areas of curriculum and technology. Also not included was close to $2 million in personnel requests. An assistant principal and guidance counselor were requested at Woodman Park Elementary School to comply with state standards, Fernandes said.

Other personnel requests include two kindergarten/first grade teachers, a kindergarten aide and a part-time art teacher at Garrison Elementary School; an instructional dean, two classroom teachers and a part-time art teacher at the middle school; and a part-time health teacher at the high school.

Personnel requests in special education included five district case managers, four special education teachers at the middle school, three instructional paraprofessionals at Horne Street Elementary School, an aide and counselor at the middle school and a part-time specialized teacher at the high school.

A districtwide technology integrator was requested as well as four part-time administrative assistants at the middle and high schools.

The athletic director requested the re-establishment of some coaching jobs. A few positions over the past few years have been filled with volunteers, Fernandes said. Those positions include a ski coach, freshman baseball coach, freshman softball coach, a boys reserve lacrosse coach, an assistant cross-country coach, and a gymnastics coach at the high school. A volleyball coach was requested at the middle school.

Fernandes said his presentation was meant to start a conversation about what should be added to his proposed budget, which he termed “a guiding template.” Fernandes recommended that unutilized monies from the 2014 budget fill some of the holes in curriculum and technology. He also said he wanted to start a conversation about using monies from capital reserve funds in order to offset costs for additional expenses.

No monies from capital reserves were used when creating the FY2015 budget, Fernandes said.

Chair Amanda Russell asked Fernandes to provide the board with a list of priorities before their next workshop Feb. 3. Vice chair Betsey Andrews Parker also asked for more concrete recommendations from the administrative team.

Board members Doris Grady and Sarah Greenshields said they liked the presentation by Fernandes because instead of getting a list of all the things they may be forced to cut, they were presented with a budget where they can add what is needed. Greenshields said she was happy to see no prejudice and just the “gut numbers.”

The school board will meet at 6:30 p.m. next Monday in the media room at the McConnell Center to discuss the budget further.